Fire chief, 'Berniecrat,' two county execs seek Sen. Eckerty's seat

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Anderson fire chief, a Delaware County organic grocer/farmer, and two county government officials from Madison County are competing Tuesday for the seat of Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown, who is retiring.

One is a "Berniecrat" and another is affiliated with the Tea Party movement.

The U-shaped district runs from Albany to Elwood, down to Pendleton and over to Summit Lake and Blountsville. It includes Yorktown but largely skips Anderson and Muncie, which are represented by Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson.

On the Republican side, Madison County Commissioner Steffanie Owens, 56, and Madison County Council member Mike Gaskill, a 54-year-old insurance agent, are the candidates.

The winner of the GOP primary will have an edge in the fall because the district leans Republican.

"I'm an outsider and a progressive," said Ring, who identifies as a "Berniecrat," a Bernie Sanders supporter. "That's a quick way to get people to understand my values and platform, which is Main Street over Wall Street, pro-small business and development of organic farming in our rural areas. It's the fastest-growing segment of agriculture and we are far behind in terms of states surrounding us." His campaign also emphasizes fighting local and state government corruption and cronyism.

"I think I can excite the base as a progressive in November," Ring told The Star Press. "I'm passionate and have a lot of fight in me. A traditional conservative Democrat will not be able to win in November. We're going to have to fire up the base and win over independents."

Dave Cravens(Photo11: Provided)

Cravens responded: "I interact with the public every day. I've knocked on over 2,000 doors and not just Democrat doors. We'll see who I've excited on May 8."

In an interview, Cravens went on: "A lot of Republicans in Madison County are supporting me …I will pull a lot of Republicans in the fall …I'm not left or right; I'm at your feet; I'm at the grassroots of the community …I have the ability to bring people of different points of view together … I respect Dave, but I'm Dave Cravens. I work for everybody."

Cravens has been endorsed by the Anderson and Muncie firefighters union, the Anderson teachers union, the Democratic Party organizations in Delaware and Madison counties, and has received funding from the plumbers union and ironworkers union.

Ring says he was never interviewed or even contacted by the Anderson teachers group regarding his stances. Democratic Party officials in Madison County ignored his phone calls and emails. The Delaware County Democratic Party, whose headquarters is a few blocks from Ring's grocery store, "has had him (Cravens) in for a fundraiser and they've had him up on their Facebook page," Ring said.

He added, "I will work bipartisanly in office when it makes sense to do so, but I'm also out there to point out the major flaws of the Republican administration and help other progressives get elected in 2018 and 2020. We have to flip red districts all across the state to change direction."

Cravens' priorities are protecting children and schools; job creation with fair wages and benefits people can afford; addressing the drug epidemic; infrastructure, and health care costs/availability. His prior work experience includes developing local shopping centers, owning General Nutrition Center health-food stores, and corporate executive at Coca- Cola.

Besides fighting corruption in state and local government, Ring's priorities are expanding the middle class; rebuilding cities, towns and rural areas through small businesses and regenerative agriculture; and declining campaign contributions from corporations, lobbyists and special interests "so voters know I can't be bought."

Ring's campaign has included knocking on hundreds of Democratic doors, attending events, conducting town halls at public libraries throughout the district; social media; and YouTube videos.

On the GOP ticket, Owens, when asked how she and her opponent Gaskill differ, told The Star Press, "I am a woman. I was coached by many state leaders to run. They felt we've lost good women in the Senate …I take a very common-sense approach on every position."

Gaskill, who has been affiliated with the Tea Party movement, has won the endorsement of Eckerty, the current senator in district 26 and, like Gaskill, an insurance agent. The two have known each other for decades. Eckerty calls Gaskill "pragmatic."

Gaskill couldn't be reached for comment, but in a written statement said if elected "I will protect the lives of the unborn, defend the Second Amendment, oppose any tax increase, maintain Indiana’s strong business climate, help develop a skilled Hoosier workforce, improve roads and infrastructure, vote only for balanced budgets, support school choice for parents, and preserve religious freedoms."

In her own statement, Owens said: "Having raised my family, I look for ways to serve. As a proud Republican and supporter of President Trump and Gov. Holcomb, I am committed to fight for the Hoosier values we hold dear: protecting the unborn, right to bear arms, preserving our religious freedoms and fiscal responsibility."